What causes target calcification in breast on mammography?
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Answer:
Target calcification refers to concentric or ring-like calcifications resembling a target or bull’s-eye appearance on mammography, typically associated with benign processes such as degenerating fibroadenomas, fat necrosis, or post-treatment changes following surgery, radiation, or biopsy in breast tissue. These occur in conditions like prior breast cancer therapy or trauma-induced damage. Note: this is a descriptive morphologic term, not a formal category in the current ACR BI-RADS mammography calcification lexicon.
Why is it called so?
It is named for its characteristic appearance of a central calcification surrounded by concentric rings, mimicking the bull’s-eye pattern of a shooting target.
Pathophysiology
Calcification develops through dystrophic mineralization in damaged or necrotic breast tissue, where cellular debris, secretions, or fibrotic remnants undergo calcium deposition due to local inflammation and tissue injury, forming layered or rimmed structures visible as target shapes on imaging.
Alternative names:
Bull’s-eye calcification, rim calcification
Other associated named signs:
Eggshell/rim-like calcification and popcorn calcification (other described benign mammographic calcification morphologies, distinct from target calcification) – this “target sign” name should not be confused with the unrelated “target sign” used for bowel intussusception on ultrasound/CT.
References
Access all radiology signs posted so far: https://radiogyan.com/radiology-signs/
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